What are the seating times at Victoria & Albert's?

[MoonFaerie]

I've been finding conflicting info. Some places show the 1st seating around 6, and other are showing it as 5. The 2nd seatings start around 9, right? We'll be going in Dec, if that matters.

Also, is 2.5-3 hours enough time to budget for the regular room? I'd much prefer the 1st seating with that much food, but I'm trying to fit it in with the rest of our platinum plan stuff.

 

[Pakey]

Our meals have been about 3 hours. I can't help you with early seating times; we always do the late seating.

 

[BriarRosie]

I had a 5:15pm seating the last time I was there. I didn't have a choice of another time for early seating. It could very well be that it was due to our party size of 6. I wouldn't know for sure.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

The starting time, depending on seasonality, is either 5:00 or 5:30. They will have seatings at about 10-15 minute intervals so everyone does not show up at one. The second seatings start 3 hours after the first, as most people will take 2¼-2½ hours to dine; this allows for tables to be cleaned off and reset without rushing anyone.

 

[MoonFaerie]

Thanks! I'll just have to see what the times are when our window opens. It looks like if we can get a 5 pm seating, we could make Cirque at 9, right? We'd be taking a cab.

I know we could see the 6 pm Cirque and then go to the last seating at V&A. I'm just not crazy about eating that much food that late at night.

 

[snykymom]

Personally, I think that both Cirque and V&A are such experiences in themselves that I wouldn't pair them on the same night, regardless of which one comes first. (And I wouldn't want to run the risk of being drowsy at V&A from all the food & relaxation!)

I'd schedule them on separate nights, even if it meant skipping one on a particular trip. And I have done both.

 

[BriarRosie]

Personally, I think that both Cirque and V&A are such experiences in themselves that I wouldn't pair them on the same night, regardless of which one comes first. (And I wouldn't want to run the risk of being drowsy at V&A from all the food & relaxation!)

I'd schedule them on separate nights, even if it meant skipping one on a particular trip. And I have done both.

I agree with this. Mostly because Cirque recommends you arrive 30 minutes prior to showtime to get seated, because there is a pre-show of sorts.

 

[JenSop]

Well, I have a 6pm reservation for our trip in June.

 

[MoonFaerie]

Personally, I think that both Cirque and V&A are such experiences in themselves that I wouldn't pair them on the same night, regardless of which one comes first. (And I wouldn't want to run the risk of being drowsy at V&A from all the food & relaxation!)

I'd schedule them on separate nights, even if it meant skipping one on a particular trip. And I have done both.

Well the thing about that is that this is a very rare trip, without the kids. We're doing a night of the platinum plan so we can do some of the dinners/tours/etc that we can't do when the kids are with us. One of the nights of our plan is a dark night for Cirque, so we don't have any flexibility on when we do Cirque. While I guess we could do Cirque on a different night, we'd have to pay OOP for it then on top of having already paid for the platinum plan.

 

[wishicouldgomoreofte]

Can you do V&A on the other night?
Your entitlements are good until midnight of the day you check out.
When we did it last May, we had the 5:30 seating, to be sure we would not be rushed, then the private Fireworks Cruise after, departing from the marina there at Grand Floridian. That comes with your Platinum Plan. It really tops off the night. Just a lovely stroll down to your waiting boat. Then a cab back to your resort.
And.....: